Optimization on the cold drawing process of 6063 aluminium tubes

• Published in: Applied mathematical modelling 2011-11, Vol.35 (11), p.5302-5313
• Main Authors: Béland, J.-F., Fafard, M., Rahem, A., D’Amours, G., Côté, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AA6063; Applied sciences; Drawing and wire drawing; Exact sciences and technology; Finite element method; Forming; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Inelasticity (thermoplasticity, viscoplasticity...); Metals. Metallurgy; Optimization; Physics; Production techniques; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Tube drawing
• ISSN: 0307-904X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2011.04.025

To obtain the T832 material behaviour, 6063-T4 tubes need to be cold drawn before artificial aging to enhance their mechanical properties. Since a high area reduction is required, multiple drawing passes are generally necessary to avoid fracture of tubes during the drawing process. These several steps need a time consuming process which could be reduced by optimization. The optimization of the tools geometry has been done through a finite element model with the objective of reducing the maximum stress level to draw tubes in one pass. Based on the optimum design, a new tool was built and acceptable accordance was observed between experiments and numerical results.